CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 27 March 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. NEGOTIATIONS FOR SURRENDER. General Schallc-Burger, Mr Reitz, Commandant Lucas Meyer, Krogh and Vanderwalt, arrived on Sunday with a flag of truce from Middleburg. The correspondent of "Standard” at Pretoria states that General SchalkBurger and the others hae been at Rhenoster Kop for the past week, where they were greatly harried by Colonel Park. On one occasion they narrowly escaped capture. The position became increasingly hopeless, and on Friday night despatch riders announced the approach of the delegates, who arrived at Balmoral under escort on Saturday. After interviewing Lord Kitchener at Pretoria, they proceeded southward to Kroonstad, where they go under safe conduct. The members of the party look well, their appearance being evidence of the healthiness of the life on the veldt. Other advices state that General Stalk-Burger aad Mr Reitz intend

meeting Mr Steyn and General De Wet and possibly General De la Rey. The impression in London is, whatever the result of the negotiations may be, that while a general simultaneous surrender is possible, it is highly improbable. The silence of the telegrams from Pretoria regarding CommandantGeneral Louis Botha is commented upon. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Mr Brodrick Secretary of State for War, informed the House of Commons that a. fortnight ago General Shalk Burger had asked permission to pass through the British lines to see Mr Steyn, and the Government immediately consented to him being allowed to do so.

Reuter states that a former member of the Transvaal Government claims that after the correspondence between Dr Kuyper and Lord Lansdowne was made public, the leaders sent six emissaries by different routes with despatches, informing General Shalk Burger and Mr Steyn of Dr Kuypor’s view that the moment was favourable to open peace negotiations. General Shalk Burger’s latest communication to Europe mentioned his willingness to open negotiations on a basis of the Boars retaining predomination in the rural districts, the appoint* merit of a British Board for the administration of the industrial centres, with a proportional Boer representation. , Other Boer statements say that any Boer overtures for peace will be those discussed at the meeting of Lord Kitchener and General Botha at Middleburg in 1901, especially in regard to a complete amnesty for Cape rebels, who form a majority of the commandos in the field.

The presence of General Shalk Burgreat Pretoria implies General Botha’s assent to the initiation of overtures, and that the matter rests with Shalk Burger. The Bourses are favourably affected by the turn of events. The newspapers are not optimistic over the prospects of peace, remembering that Mr Steyn in the past resolutely opposed any suggestion in the nature of a compromise. It is unofficially but credibly stated that General Shalk Burger inquired what would be the status of the leaders in the event of surrender. In the House of Commons Mr Brodrick stated that the application for a safe-conduct was based on the possibility of peace proposals being made. INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. General Botha, on the occasion of Commandant Emmett’s capture, escaped by hiding in an adjacent kloof. General Bruce Hamilton on the 18th inst. captured eighteen Boers. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report shows that five Boers were killed, 95 captured and 63 surrendered. Three Krupp guns have been discovered at Liebenbergsvlei. PERMANENT POLICE FORCE, Lord Milner by proclamation has established a permanent police force in the towns of Orange River Colony, A criminal investigation department is being organised. Members of the force are to receive 8s a day and sergeants 12s. MISCELLANEOUS. A weekly shipload of light cavalry hoises is leaving England for South Africa. The Stock Exchange is hopeful that peace will be arranged. “ Kaffir ” stocks are firmer in price. The War Office requires five hundred tons of the best Australian flour delivered at South African ports. All cavalry and infantry reservists now on working furlough have been ordered to be examined with a view to testing their fitness to serve abroad. The Morning Post Brussels correspondent asserts that Britain has consented to a Dutch ambulance being sent for the use of the Boers. A sentry shot dead a German Boer prisoner who was attempting to escape from camp at Bellary, Bombay. The British guard tried to suppress an affray among the Boers at Broad• bottom Camp, St. Helena. The Boers then rushed at the guard, who fired, wounding several, and suppressing the rising. Mr Chamberlain, Secretary for the Colonies, has expressed his thanks to Mr J. S. Horsfall, of New South Wales, for his patriotic action in raising a corps of Riverina Bushmen. Latest. HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS. Commandants Malan and Fouze, with two hundred men, are hiding in the Candedoos mountains and pursuit is difficult. CAPTURE OF MEN AND GUNS'. Colonel Dixon captured sixteen Boers at Lichenbergolei, besides three Krupp guns which were found in a waterhole. COMFORTABLE BOERS. Mr Fischer, the Boer representative, interviewed at Amsterdam, said the latest direct accounts showed that the Burghers were plentifully supplied with provisions, ammunition horses and arms, and had no dread of the winter. Steyn’s courage was undiminished. BOER PE \r-E PROPOSALS. Six staff officers, including Mr Kitchener’s aide-de-camp, are accompanying Schalk Burger’s party to Kvoonstad. It is rumored the delegates favour a general surrender.